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QUESTIONS FOR HASBRO - round 87

Please post your VOTE for up to 4 {four} of the questions provided in this thread, letting us know which ones you most want to see asked on September 24th. Keep in mind that your votes in round 86 do not count in this round, so if your question is still on the list you may want to vote for it again.

Also, feel free to post new questions. For reference, here are Hasbro's answers to previous SSG questions; and from other sites. The questions we asked last round can be found here.

Current questions (vote for up to 4):

- On the latest TIE Interceptor's packaging, the box art on the front has a highly-detailed ship which is not actually representing the toy, the back of the box imagery does that. However, while the new cockpit pod is a great improvement, that art highlights the wings being the same existing designs we've had for the last 3 decades, and their size and lack of detail really shows compared to the new pod. Granted, you've just released a TIE Interceptor so it's not like we're going to see new wings next week. But hypothetically, how far in the future might fans have to wait to get a set of updated TIE Interceptor wings to match the quality of the new pod?

- With the 2008 Medical Frigate Luke figure, the figure almost fits the bill for Echo Base recovery scene Luke, if not for the open mechanical arm, and the different likeness with scars and Hoth hairstyle. That scene also has another character whose figure is in dire need of updating: 2-1B, who hasn't seen a new figure design in over a decade. With a Recovery Luke figure, it'd just be a new head required (the body and undamaged forearm tooling already exists from the VOTC figure) so you could also include the mask he wore in that scene's less-infamous cut footage (we're not asking you to make kissing Luke & Leia, you'll have to decide if you're twisted enough to go there ;-) ). So, any chances of knocking the Echo Base Recovery scene out of the park by making new 2-1B and Luke recovery figures?

- The initial Force Unleashed figures were released well before the actual game, and many of the cooler figures sold quickly and were hard to find by the time the game was released. Of the major characters, the Jumptrooper, Evo Trooper, Vader, and Galen Marek have seen a few re-releases, while Juno Eclipse (sadly) still languishes on store shelves in many areas. One figure that was never re-released though is Rahm Kota, who was one of the first figures to vanish upon the initial release, and has since appeared in other Star Wars media, including a different video game. Given that he is likely to appear in a major role in The Force Unleashed II later this year and the 2 exclusive TFU 5-packs were released in May, are there any chances Kota might be re-released as a Greatest Hits figure, or perhaps even updated with a new, more actor-accurate and 'blinded' head sculpt, as well as a deactivated saber hilt for his shoulder scabbard?

- The prequels have introduced a number of new alien species to the Star Wars universe, and Hasbro has been good about making figures of most of them. Aside from pod race pilots which have already been discussed with Hasbro, there are several other visually interesting alien species that Hasbro hasn't yet added to the lineup including Roonan, Sarrish, Zeuolin, Holwuff, Tarnab and Sy Myrthian. While these are admittedly background stuff and mostly represented as senators in the films, as action figures they would add another dimension of unique aliens to the line. Can you tell us if any of these species will find their way into the lineup in the foreseeable future?

- Over the years, pretty much all of the core prequel heros and villains have gotten their own vehicles of some type to zoom around in and do battle, even some of the secondary Jedi characters. But a big exception is Asajj Ventress, who in the micro-series used the nifty and distinctive Ginivex-class Fanblade Starfighter, it's also been in some comics and books so that should break it out of Lucasfilm's "no micro-series items" edict. Starfighter-pricepoint vehicles are a big portion of Hasbro's Star Wars gameplan, and while the flow of new vehicles in it has been outstanding lately, there is definitely a mismatch of good-guy Republic starfighters to bad-guy CIS starfighters, with the CIS certainly not ruling the skies for kids and collectors. The vehicle is a unique design, built on a gimmick concept that also makes it fairly simple, mostly just a simple ball cockpit, very small engines, and the gimmick wing, so it might not be too difficult to deliver in the pricepoint. Bottom line, it's a new Starfighter vehicle, it has name character recognizability, it's a good co-sell to the large good guy library of vehicles, and it already is basically in the existing scale. Obviously, current entertainment would help a lot, and a recent trailer of Clone Wars season 3 appears to show the Fanblade starfighter for a moment, but we don't know for sure what the future holds in that regard. So, what are the chances of seeing Asajj Ventress' Fanblade Starfighter get added to the line?

- Force FX has entered a new phase with the removable blade series, and so far we've seen the first couple waves. Thanks to Clone Wars, female characters are back on the rise in Star Wars and bringing in more female collectors - Ahsoka especially has been selling very well. What does the future of Force FX look like? What are the chances of Ahsoka's lightsaber being added to the Force FX line, better opening that market up to female consumers and getting Clone Wars main character recognizability?

- Despite several denied fan requests for an update of her "classic" look in the basic line, as well as a flat out "not happening" for the somewhat necessary inclusion in the Galactic Heroes line (considering we have the other two in the classic trio) some fans are getting the idea that Hasbro has something against Sy Snootles. Does she rank up there with Ben Quadinaros, Jaxxon, and Jocasta Nu as being too far out there, or are those fans just reading too much into your lack of movement on this? Has Lucasfilm had any role in your decision not to pursue anything representing the classic puppet, or is there hope that we can convince Hasbro to change their stance? Now that the Vintage line is back this would be a perfect opportunity to get this classic alien into the hands of collectors, even if not as a basic figure but an exclusive. Consider that the existing Sy Snootles figure has some of the most useless articulation ever, its pose is incredibly awkward, and its paint is the only one of the band to be this inaccurate. We're not even asking for Max Rebo's organ to be corrected with the horn on top, just a better Sy Snootles. Shouldn't the frontman of the band get the best figure instead of the worst?

- Back in June's Q&A, we asked about whether this year's Saga Legends Battle Droids 2-pack that uses the superior, most recent tooling would have corrected paint (giant eyes and the wrong location of the big yellow chest circle on the commander) and the neck peg assembled correctly. On the paint, you said it'd be corrected, and on the neck you said it'd get looked into. Now that the set is out, the battle droids still have paint issues - now both figures have huge eyes, and the commander's yellow circle is still too low - and the neck is still backwards. With these new-mold Battle Droids making a very welcome return to stores, fans are wondering, will these issues will get addressed in this run? If not, will there be a later run they can look forward to with the corrected eyes, chest dot, and neck assembly?

- In the upcoming Battle Over Endor multipacks, you've included a figure of Lt. Yong, the Y-wing pilot from ROTJ that flies (and dies) under the handle Gray 3, but the torso used on the figure is the existing B-wing pilot design rather than a Y-wing pilot torso. On the ROTJ Y-wing pilot costume, the collar is different and the chest box and apron are more like the POTF2 Lt. Yong figure (at the time he was misidentified as Arvel Crynyd, but it was Yong's helmet, face, and Y-wing pilot torso and apron just in the wrong color - red instead of gray). Is this new Lt. Yong using the B-wing pilot torso a mistake, or just a cost-saving measure? In either case, if there are future ROTJ Y-wing pilot figures down the line, will we get a new movie-accurate torso for them with the unique costume chest box and apron, and closed collar?

- Back in October of '07, we asked you about upgrading the VOTC Lando down the road with ball-hinge elbows and a removable cape that properly drapes over his shoulders (the existing design is neither removable nor does it fit him properly the way it does in the film). Your response was "Great suggestion - we will look at that for a possible future Lando upgrade." In the following 3 years though, no new Lando Cloud City figure was produced so none of these upgrades were used. Lando is a fairly iconic and beloved Star Wars character, the scenes he wears this costume are some his most notable scenes and his only action scenes in ESB, so he needs more flexibility in how he can be displayed. So, what are the chances that we could get a new Lando Cloud City figure with those upgrades in the foreseeable future?

- You have this nice new Qui-Gon Jinn figure that came out in the Jedi Evolution set, and has been re-released in the nifty Eopie mail-away set, yet both times the figure has been marred by including the blobby 1999 lightsaber accessory. Luke Jedi keeps coming out with either repaints of the ROTS Obi-Wan's lightsabers (which has different details), or worse, the blobby Obi-Wan POTJ saber from 2000. Both the '99 Qui-Gon and '00 Obi-Wan as Luke Jedi sabers also have the old smooth blade design without the flare on top of their soft hilt sculpting, and both Qui-Gon and Luke Jedi actually had better saber accessories designed during the Saga line, yet we never get them. And what about one of the most iconic lightsabers in recent SW memory, Darth Maul? There is no modern-quality version at all, the closest is the '02 Saga metal hilt with removable blades, but the blades break easily, so we haven't seen it in a while, and it's a bit long. We don't have a deactivated one to hang on a belt, don't have a 1-blade-activated version, don't have a "cut in half" version, Maul is pretty lacking for his weapon. Why are we getting old junky saber accessories with the modern versions of these guys? Why aren't we seeing better, more accurate lightsaber accessories for some of these fairly major, recognizable Jedi characters? And will these issues be addressed soon?

- The recent update to Hoth Leia has taken off, it seems to be moving off TVC pegs, and fans appreciate how good a figure it is with sculpting and articulation working together so well for such a classic Leia outfit. With that in mind, ESB offers 2 more Leia outfits that need similar treatment, the Bespin Gown outfit and the Bespin Escape outfit. The last Bespin Escape Leia, which is one of the character's signature action sequences in the saga, was back in the POTJ line in 2001, and was limited in articulation so to be stuck in an action pose. The last Bespin Gown Leia had very little articulation and even less usable, leaving it a statue. What are the chances that we could get modern-quality updates to these 2 iconic ESB Leia outfits?

- Although we've gotten in recent years a better Luke from ANH, and even a second Han Solo Death Star Escape, we've still not really gotten an acceptable Luke Death Star Escape figure. The last one was the 25th Anniversary set which was essentially a statue. Luke and Leia's "swing to freedom" (as Hasbro describes it) is one of the earliest, most iconic Star Wars images, and yet not only do we not have a truly acceptable Leia figure for this, but we don't have a modern-quality Luke for it, and he's the hero of the scene! Luke would need a stormtrooper utility belt and grappling hook & line (and if these just happened to be swappable with a regular Luke ANH belt to complete the Death Star scenes in this costume, so much the better), and articulation to deliver the action, and a quality likeness would mean a lot too. Are there any chances that we get a Death Star Escape Luke like this? And while we're at it, how about a Leia as well?

- In several instances now, when asked about the new Slave I getting an ESB release, the response is that it largely depends on how the current Clone Wars version does at retail. If the decision to release it this way is based off sales, why release this as a $100 set with a few re-released figures, and a vehicle repaint that wasn't really hotly requested? If this CW set does sell, does that suggest an ESB release would get a similar Ultimate Battle Pack treatment with the release of some new figures like Bespin Guards and an existing vehicle like the Cloud Car? If that's not likely in store for an ESB Slave I, why predicate that release on this one when it has a different pricepoint, market, and really a different business model altogether? Why release the CW one in this ultimate battle pack format, was this vehicle originally planned for the now-defunct $60 Deluxe Vehicle line and repurposed, was this always the plan for it, or if not, how did this come about this way?

Hey JT, I'd like to add a new question for this round about the Saga Legends Battle Droids still have incorrect paint apps. Below is my attempt but feel free to edit it as you see fit.

Last year Hasbro turned out a new Battle Droid sculpt for the realistic line in the Target exclusive Geonosis 2-packs. While the sculpting was head and shoulders above previous Battle Droids, the paint apps left much to be desired; the commander droid had enormous eyes and the yellow marker on his chest was placed too high and a tad too small while the basic droid was missing eyes altogether. With these droids making a very welcome return to stores in the Saga Legends line, fans are wondering why some of these issues have not bee resolved. Yes, the infantry droid has eyes but they're the ridiculously oversized ones the commander is still sporting. Were these left for some reason or was it an oversight?

I would like to vote for this question whatever it's final number is as well as questions 2, 4, and 5.

"Although we know you've ruled out future 'running changes,' is there any possibility the (film version) Battle Droid mold used in the 2009 Target 2-packs and in the 2010 Saga Legends assortment might be re-released with the beige Episode I color scheme?"

I suppose one could repaint the droid oneself, but the eyes would be a pain in the butt.

it is the chest box just like the figure pilot 3 pack of the pilot (one in red). that is why they should make y wing pilots near movie accurate just add a new torso that look similar like the movie pilot 3 pack figure from POTF2.

check out a custom figure of a Y wing pilot, his chest box looks movie accurate just like in the pic of the pilots i've post.

at least you can ask hasbro one question why did a y wing pilot didn't have a new sculpt torso and just have a b wing body and ask them if this y wing pilot will get his new torso that is movie accurate like other y wing pilots in those pics/inks and will all other y wing pilots to have retooled b wing pilot figures with just a new torso.

could you at least add a question for possible y wing pilots with retooled b wing pilot figures with new torsos?

i have a question about a luke skywalker as pilot from return of the jedi and in the movie shows his putting on his black glove to hide the gun shot wound on his hand.

could you add the question for luke x wing pilot from ROTJ, a vintage style luke x wing pilot with new head sculpt (same as the upcoming luke jedi knight figure), new hands, removable black glove to fit on a right hand.

All the characters from the Star Wars films needs to be made into figures especially Luke Snowspeeder pilot (new head without cap), Wedge Snowspeeder pilot and the rest of the X-Wings, Snowspeeders, Y-Wings and B-Wings pilots! Biggs Darklighter as X-Wing, all the Jedis and all the Skiff and Sail Barge Guards all needed improvement and movie accurate!

since they remade the vintage style luke skywalker bespin from ESB after the first luke bespin figure was made and not much a movie accurate.

have you add a question about a resculpt/retooled Lando Calrissian from ESB?

a new head sculpt that the fans want

ball jointed elbows

removable soft good cape

blaster

could you add this question once more?

i have another question about the new Aalya Secura, we know she is going to be an all new sculpt figure, will she have a place she can store her lightsaber hilt just like the ROTS Aayla Secura figure?

All the characters from the Star Wars films needs to be made into figures especially Luke Snowspeeder pilot (new head without cap), Wedge Snowspeeder pilot and the rest of the X-Wings, Snowspeeders, Y-Wings and B-Wings pilots! Biggs Darklighter as X-Wing, all the Jedis and all the Skiff and Sail Barge Guards all needed improvement and movie accurate!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtriv73
With the success of another EU based starfighter assortment vehicle, the republic tank, what is the likelihood of ever seeing the super aggressive and (as an Imperial starfighter) instantly recognizable TIE Defender in 3-3/4inch scale? It's been done in titanium, lego, and micromachine formats and apparently has done well in at least 2 of those 3 (it's hard to tell with the lego set.) Would it ever be considered for the starfighter line (or as a store exclusive)?

Sept 10th, 2009:
YodasNews.com: Since the Expanded Universe has proven to be successful on store shelves, are there any plans to expand the TIE fleet to include 3.75 inch scale versions of the TIE Advanced (from the mid-90s LucasArts game "TIE Fighter") and the TIE Defender?
Hasbro: Most any other EU-based TIE we would do (such as TIE Defender, or TIE Crawler) would require a substantial amount of tooling and a leap of fiath that these would be popular enough that we could justify all of the mew development work. We have tried out hand at a few repaint-type EU vehicles, but these would be all new. As cool as these new TIEs are, a number of fans still stick to on-screen appearances for their vehicle purchases and we're hoping that the new Clone Interceptor Tank turns enough heads to justify future continued expansions into the EU vehicle ranks.

I think the reply to yodanews, which I had in mind when I asked the question, shows that it may be time to follow up on this one. The Clone interceptor tank, which I mistakenly called the republic tank, has been out for a while and has done well enough to earn itself a repaint. Is the success of that vehicle enough to warrant expansion of EU vehicles and if so would something with a proven track record like the TIE defender make the top of the list.

I also want to show my support for Gothiczartan's screen-accurate Y-Wing Pilot campaign. I've wanted an ROTJ Y-Wing Pilot since 1983, but just getting a grey B-Wing Pilot is not good enough to fill that gap for me.

"To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence… When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." - C.S. Lewis

Hey JT, I'd like to add a new question for this round about the Saga Legends Battle Droids still have incorrect paint apps. Below is my attempt but feel free to edit it as you see fit.

Last year Hasbro turned out a new Battle Droid sculpt for the realistic line in the Target exclusive Geonosis 2-packs. While the sculpting was head and shoulders above previous Battle Droids, the paint apps left much to be desired; the commander droid had enormous eyes and the yellow marker on his chest was placed too high and a tad too small while the basic droid was missing eyes altogether. With these droids making a very welcome return to stores in the Saga Legends line, fans are wondering why some of these issues have not bee resolved. Yes, the infantry droid has eyes but they're the ridiculously oversized ones the commander is still sporting. Were these left for some reason or was it an oversight?

I would like to vote for this question whatever it's final number is as well as questions 2, 4, and 5.

Ok, I'll add this. I'm rewriting it to hit the points a little better. Also, the dot is placed too low, not too high, and it's hard to tell if it's the dot that's scaled wrong since right now it's not positioned properly. I will count your vote for it, #8. Thanks for voting!

Originally Posted by El Chuxter

How about, unless it's never been asked:

"Although we know you've ruled out future 'running changes,' is there any possibility the (film version) Battle Droid mold used in the 2009 Target 2-packs and in the 2010 Saga Legends assortment might be re-released with the beige Episode I color scheme?"

I suppose one could repaint the droid oneself, but the eyes would be a pain in the butt.

Just 2 rounds ago we asked that, it's the same answer that DarkJedi5 is talking about:

CollectionStation.com: Recent Hasbro images show the upcoming Saga Legends Battle Droid 2-pack both using the mold based on the new Battle Droid figures from the Target Geonosis Arena Showdown sets. Is that what we will actually be used to make this Saga Legends 2-pack? If so, will we see any of the issues we raised in a previous Q&A addressed, like a left arm that can hold the blaster similar to the Clone Wars Firefighter Droid, or properly-sized eyes for every droid, or the neck piece facing the right way? Also, will we be seeing any running deco changes on this set, switching from Geonosis red to Naboo tan? Will there always be a commander droid and a regular grunt? Army-building Battle Droids only in red and at a 1:1 ratio with their commanders would be quite limiting, and many previous Saga Legends army builders have enjoyed running changes like this without any problems expressed.Hasbro: There will be no more planned running changes to anything, unfortunately, as this has been impossible to control, a headache, and it is considered a way to subvert the item count process. So the law has come down, no more running changes. As such, the pack will be as shown - two maroon droids, one commander and one regular battle droid. No changes to the molds will be made from the Geonosis version, although the eye deco will be corrected and we are looking into the neck issue...that one slipped by everyone. If we can squeeze out another item to do a tan version, we will look at it but for now there are no plans.

Originally Posted by Gothiczartan

it is the chest box just like the figure pilot 3 pack of the pilot (one in red). that is why they should make y wing pilots near movie accurate just add a new torso that look similar like the movie pilot 3 pack figure from POTF2.

check out a custom figure of a Y wing pilot, his chest box looks movie accurate just like in the pic of the pilots i've post.

at least you can ask hasbro one question why did a y wing pilot didn't have a new sculpt torso and just have a b wing body and ask them if this y wing pilot will get his new torso that is movie accurate like other y wing pilots in those pics/inks and will all other y wing pilots to have retooled b wing pilot figures with just a new torso.

could you at least add a question for possible y wing pilots with retooled b wing pilot figures with new torsos?

That's a lot of extra material, and not very helpful since it's all blurry. I'll add a question, but leave out the links.

i have a question about a luke skywalker as pilot from return of the jedi and in the movie shows his putting on his black glove to hide the gun shot wound on his hand.

could you add the question for luke x wing pilot from ROTJ, a vintage style luke x wing pilot with new head sculpt (same as the upcoming luke jedi knight figure), new hands, removable black glove to fit on a right hand.

This is in 1 short scene in the film and is very specific. Because of that, I am going to hold off for now. Maybe start a discussion in the forums about it, see if other people are interested, get support first, then suggest it.

since they remade the vintage style luke skywalker bespin from ESB after the first luke bespin figure was made and not much a movie accurate.

have you add a question about a resculpt/retooled Lando Calrissian from ESB?

a new head sculpt that the fans want

ball jointed elbows

removable soft good cape

blaster

could you add this question once more?

We asked this a while back, they said they'd look into it. Unlike that X-wing Luke ROTJ where it's just 1 small scene, this is Lando's biggest moment in the Saga and the figure can't fully capture that, so I will add a new question reminding them of what they said. I don't know what blaster you mean though, the Rebel DH-17 blaster?

i have another question about the new Aalya Secura, we know she is going to be an all new sculpt figure, will she have a place she can store her lightsaber hilt just like the ROTS Aayla Secura figure?

I am not going to add that right now, it's too specific.

Originally Posted by mtriv73

I think the reply to yodanews, which I had in mind when I asked the question, shows that it may be time to follow up on this one. The Clone interceptor tank, which I mistakenly called the republic tank, has been out for a while and has done well enough to earn itself a repaint. Is the success of that vehicle enough to warrant expansion of EU vehicles and if so would something with a proven track record like the TIE defender make the top of the list.

It's a bit of an "apples and oranges" thing, the Republic Fighter Tank (the "Clone Interceptor Tank" is the new blue repaint) is a starfighter-sized vehicle that holds multiple Clone Trooper figures and fills a $25-pricepoint tank need that was sorely missing. The TIE Defender is far too big to work as a starfighter-pricepoint ($25) vehicle, and holds only 1 figure, and isn't themed to the current entertainment the way the Tank is. If you can think of something that addresses that, LMK.

Originally Posted by bigbarada

#7 for now.

I also want to show my support for Gothiczartan's screen-accurate Y-Wing Pilot campaign. I've wanted an ROTJ Y-Wing Pilot since 1983, but just getting a grey B-Wing Pilot is not good enough to fill that gap for me.

Ok, I'll count your vote for that question (#9). And thanks for saying that, it helped sway me as it is somewhat specific.

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